Urban I & C - Birmingham

Question 1

What is Birmingham’s importance to the UK?

Answer 1

offices for important companies BBC, 90% of all UK consumers are within 4 hours travel of the city, New Street Station links the city to the rest of the country, very popular shopping destination

Question 2

What is Birmingham’s importance to the world?

Answer 2

offices for foreign companies who work in the UK e.g. EON, Birmingham Airport has direct flights to places like the USA and China

Question 3

What are the impacts of international migration in Birmingham on growth?

Answer 3

Impact on growth :
post-war migration from Jamaica and India led to growth in the 1950s. Migration today to Birmingham for education, fleeing from conflict and for employment.

Question 4

What are the impacts of international migration in Birmingham on character?

Answer 4

Impact on character :
multi-cultural society, segregation across Birmingham e.g. Lozells vs Sutton Four Oaks, many cultural/religious festivals e.g. Vaisakhi festival, Chinese New Year, wide range of shops and restaurants e.g. Balti Triangle

Question 5

What are the impacts of national migration in Birmingham on growth?

Answer 5

Impact on growth :
rapid growth from 1800-1940s due to industrialization. Declines between 1950 and 1990 due to high levels of unemployment ( deindustrialisation ). Since 2000 the population has started to grow again – now 1.1 million.

Question 6

What are the impacts of national migration in Birmingham on character?

Answer 6

Impact on character :
present day young population as people migrate for university and work.

Question 7

How has urban change in Birmingham created social opportunities in culture?

Answer 7

Cultural mix :
Urban change - international migration leading to ethnic diversity
Opportunities - variety of shops and restaurants e.g. Balti Triangle, Black International Film Festival, Chinese New Year festival, Vaisakhi celebrations

Question 8

How has urban change in Birmingham created social opportunities in recreation and entertainment?

Answer 8

Recreation and entertainment :
Urban change: rejuvenation e.g. Big City plan
Opportunities: Gas Street Basin canal side restaurants and attractions like Sea Life Centre. Improved facilities e.g. the Library and Bullring

Question 9

How has urban change in Birmingham created economic opportunities for employment?

Answer 9

Employment :
Urban change: deindustrialisation → decrease in manufacturing jobs. Investment in making Birmingham appealing to service sector businesses e.g. improving transport, new office spaces.
Opportunities: large firms relocating to Birmingham e.g. HQ of HSBC, investment in universities, employment in retail.

Question 10

How has urban change in Birmingham created economic opportunities for transport?

Answer 10

Integrated transport systems :
Urban change: investment in transport infrastructure
Opportunities: integrated transport system = different types of transport are connected. Metro tram reaches from Wolverhampton to New Street Station in Birmingham. Swift PAYG smart card for any travel on trains, buses and trams in the West Midlands.

Question 11

How has urban change in Birmingham created environmental opportunities?

Answer 11

Environmental opportunities :
Urban change: rejuvenation of the CBD e.g. Millennium Point, New Street Station
Opportunities: new green spaces. Green Wall outside New Street Station. Eastside City Park at Millennium Point.

Question 12

How has urban change created social and economic challenges in employment within Birmingham?

Answer 12

Employment :
- Deindustrialisation → high unemployment in inner city in wards like Lozells as this is where factory workers used to live.

Question 13

How has urban change created social and economic challenges in inequalities in housing within Birmingham?

Answer 13

Inequalities in housing :
- Poorer quality housing in inner city areas due to higher unemployment and high numbers of rented/council housing
- Some inner city areas like Mosely have been redeveloped -> house prices rise -> original residents are forced out.

Question 14

How has urban change created social and economic challenges in education within Birmingham?

Answer 14

Education
Difficult to attract teachers and low aspirations of children in inner city due to unemployment -> GCSE results increase with distance from the CBD.

Question 15

How has urban change created social and economic challenges in health within Birmingham?

Answer 15

Health
- Poor lifestyle in inner city → life expectancy increases with distance from the CBD e.g. 84 years in Sutton Four Oaks and 78 in Aston and Lozells.

Question 16

How has urban change of dereliction created environmental challenges in Birmingham?

Answer 16

Dereliction :
- Brownfield sites in the city centre e.g. abandoned factories,
unemployment has led to houses becoming run down in inner city areas like Aston and Lozells. Building on brownfield and greenfield sites- see urban sprawl and commuter settlements

Question 17

How has urban change of waste disposal created environmental challenges in Birmingham?

Answer 17

Waste disposal :
- Rising population = more waste -> 7.5% goes to landfill, 27% of waste is recycled, most goes to Tyseley Energy Recovery Facility to be incinerated -> generates power

Question 18

What is the impact of urban sprawl on brownfield sites in Birmingham?

Answer 18

Brownfield sites :
Land that has been built on before and is now disused, often in the
inner city.
- water and sewage pipes in place, improves the area’s image by removing derelict ground, easier to get planning permission, no habitat destruction

Question 19

What is the impact of urban sprawl on greenfield sites in Birmingham?

Answer 19

Greenfield sites :
land that has not been built on before usually in the countryside or on the edge of a city.
- more space for gardens and detached houses, close to large roads e.g. motorways for commuting, no cost of clearing and cleaning the land.

Question 20

What is the impact of urban sprawl on the rural–urban fringe in Birmingham?

Answer 20

Urban sprawl :
The unplanned growth of urban areas into the surrounding countryside.
- loss of greenfield sites and habitats, out of town shopping reduces business to city centre shops, increased congestion and pollution in the rural urban fringe.

Question 21

What is the impact of urban sprawl on the commuter settlements in Birmingham?

Answer 21

Commuter settlement :
Where the majority of residents leave each day to work in other
places e.g. Hagley, south of Birmingham.
- conflict with locals due to new housing being built -> house prices increasing, greenfield sites built upon, more children at local school, congestion, local shops have fewer customers

Question 22

What is an example of an urban regeneration project in Birmingham?

Answer 22

Case study: Birmingham Bullring. Re-opened in 2003

Question 23

What were the reasons why the regeneration project in Birmingham was needed?

Answer 23

The Bullring -
Reasons why the area needed regeneration :
- 1989 Merry Hill was built -> 12% decrease in trade within Birmingham’s CBD over the next 5 years.
- People preferred the range of shops, car parking and modern environment of M.H.

Question 24

What were the main features of the Bullring within Birmingham?

Answer 24

The main features of the project :
- New, big brand shops e.g. Selfridges. Total of 140 shops and cafes
- Art work and interesting architecture e.g. Selfridges building and the Bull.
- Street lamps, trees and litterbins placed near around the Bullring to improve the environment.
- 3100 parking spaces and new pedestrianized areas.
- 36.5 million people came to the Bullring in its first year

Question 25

How does Water conservation link with urban sustainability within Birmingham?

Answer 25

Water conservation:
Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT) new social housing with Sustainable Urban Drainage; The Library of Birmingham rainwater is harvested to be reused.

Question 26

How does Energy conservation link with urban sustainability within Birmingham?

Answer 26

Energy conservation:
BMHT new housing using triple glazing, effective insulation -> energy efficient. Library of Birmingham has large windows to reduce energy use.

Question 27

How does Waste recycling link with urban sustainability within Birmingham?

Answer 27

Waste recycling:
Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) in Tyseley takes 350,000 tonnes of Birmingham’s rubbish each year and converts it into electricity. Birmingham City Council we are working towards achieving a 40% recycling rate by 2026.

Question 28

How does creating Green space link with urban sustainability within Birmingham?

Answer 28

Creating green space:
Library of Birmingham roof garden attracts wildlife and boosts biodiversity. Eastside City Park, opened in 2013, more than 300 trees.

Question 29

How did the Clean Air Zone in Birmingham reduce traffic congestion?

Answer 29

Clean Air Zone :
Vehicles that do not meet emissions standards pay a daily charge for
driving into, out of, or through the central part of Birmingham. This encourages use of public transport or electric cars.

Question 30

How did cycling in Birmingham reduce traffic congestion?

Answer 30

Cycling :
Cycle hire and cycle lanes; some companies e.g. HSBC offer free bicycles to employees.

Question 31

How did the Integrated Transport System in Birmingham reduce traffic congestion?

Answer 31

Integrated Transport system:
Interchanges between bus, tram and train. Swift card -> encourages use of public transport.